Catch



Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES RALPH ROMAIN MAT'iicE, or PAULLINA, Iowa.

CATCH.

Application filed June 13,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH R. MATTICE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Paullina, in the county of OBrien and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Catch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has relation to a catch or fastener for holding relatively slidable ineinbers in a predetermined position or positions, the same same being particularly designed for use in connection with sliding doors, gates or other closures of this type.

As an object the invention provides a catch for relatively movable members, sliding closures or the like, which is gravitationally operable to effect its engagement or disengagement upon movement of the closure beyond the predetermined position.

More specifically the invention contem# plates a catch for use in connection with vertically slidable closures for the purpose of holding the same in a predetermined elevated position and in which the catch element is gravitationally operable for engagement and disengagement with a keeper upon movement of the closure above the predeter-v mined elevated position.

A still further object is to provide a catch as heretofore set forth which also includes a spring actuated bolt designed to coact with vertically spaced keepers for locking the closure in a lowered or closed position or for holding the same in various intermediate elevated positions between its closed and extreme open position.

The invention furthermore contemplates in connection with a spring actuatedbolt of the character described, means for respectively renderingthe same active and inactive.

As a further object the invention resides in the provision of a catch of the character set forth which is extremely simple in its construction and mode of operation7 which is inexpensive to produce and install, which is of a strong and durable nature, and which is positive and efficient in its action and purose. Y Y Y V'Vith the above recited andother objects in view, the invention residesin the novel construction set forth in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that 1922. Serial No. 568,010.

the right is reserved to embodiments otherv than those actually illustrated herein to the vfull extent indicated by the general meaning Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view there-y through illustrating the catch in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the catch in active position for holding the clo-4 sure in a predetermined elevated position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the manner in which the catch is released. Y

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 10 designates a door, gate or other closure which is mounted for vertical sliding movements in the guideway 11 of a support or frame 12.

rllhe catch or means for fastening the closure in a predetermined elevated position or positions includes a vertical guide bar 13 which is disposed parallel to the path of movement of the closure and is preferably supported therefrom by a bracket or brack-I ets 14 which are secured to thesupport 12.` The guide bar is provided at its forward edge with ay keeper notch 15 adjacent its up per end and with subterposed vertically spaced keeper openings 1.6. The catch ele` ment designated generally by the reference character 17 embodies an arm 18 which is' pivoted at its lower end asiat 19 to a forwardly projecting bearing lug 20 attached to the upper edge of the closure 10. The free upper end of the arm 18 has pivoted thereto as at 21 the inner end of a link 22 which embraces the bar 13. The link consists of spaced side arms 23 and 24 which are connected together at their inner ends by the pivot 21 with theI upper free end of the arm 18 interposed therebetween. The outer ends of the side arms 23 are connected together by `a transverse rivet 25 ,and are spaced apart by a sleeve 26 interposed there-` between and mounted for free-rotationon the rivet. Under this arrangement when the closure 10 is moved upwardly, the upper free end of the arm 18 will gravitationally engage and coact the inner edge .Of the bar 13 due to the fact that vthe inner edge of the bar'l gspacedan appropriate distance in front of the pivot 19 to causeithe arm t be disposed at an outward inclination. In this position of the armlS,` the-'outererdfof' the link 22 will gravitate downwardly until the sleeve 26 coacts and engages with the" outer edge. The keeper notch is provided. with a convex rear wall 27 Vwhieh ierg'ee" intothe semi-.circular upper and lower. walls 21S". and 29' attheir upperk vand lower. ends: The lowerfwallf'29l merges into-'an upwardly inclined Yeclgef()y which terminatee in a down# .Y wardly and Yutwardly curved edge "31 which merges into the outer edge of. the bar 13. The upper semicircular wall or edge28 terminates.inahorizntal suhterposed edge 32 which is disposed at a right angleto and terminates in linewiththe edge of theV har 13; wheathe Closer-e 10 @elevated 'to a pie determined height, the catch operates inthe followingmanner, the-sleeve 26 ofthe' link 22 passes over the downwardlyI and out-v wardly curved edgel and Ygravitates over sage ,30,1 when' the Si the inclined; edge 31 into the lowensemr circular:l wall' rAt this point further-conf tinued)upward-l movement of the Y closure eausesthefsleeve-26 to roll over the convex.

rear wallf27'of the notch u'ntil'the sleeve engages within the upper semi-"circular Ywall,

281 which arrests further upward movement ofthe closure'andacts as va limiting stop therefor. permitted to move downwardly the sleeve 26"will again roll oife'r the' convefxrearwall 217.A df the' ,li'eelperV notcli'and will engage withinthe semifcirculrlower wall 29'. Further continned'dwifiwar,d movement' of the closu'reeffects al down.wardI andinw'ard ,swing-f ingpfltliefinner pivotedend21 ofthe link 22, which in turn efleet arearlward 0r inward swinging ofthe upper end ofthe arm lS'vf-awayj fromthe rear edge ofthe guide bar 13.-' Als the closure oontinu'es to move downwardly the inner piv'oted en'd 21 of the link 2'2" continuesv to describe" anY arcuate path',

thus s'ivingingfth'e upper pivoted end'ofthe movement- @ages the ligue 22 te .be marea Then the closure releasedfoi" Op'eainglie. a Springacis Connected with' the adjac'eiit itslinlier'end aindloeais` againsttheiinner'side'offthe'bight 34 to norE mally. eii'ect the. proieetin ofthe inner endA ofA the'holt into-thekeeper openings.v` rlhe outer side ofthe hight is provided withaV boss 37 throughwhich the outeren'd of the holt-extends'. Theholt is provided with av sii pinBS extending.therethrugh and the ho'ss is providedwith: xdiametric'allyY opposed longtudinal slots 39. lThe outer lextremity ofy the holt is provided with almiurled,yhead'lO`v which serves as a means `forwithdrawing"v the holtag'ainst the actionl of the springBG' to'release thesaine from the keeper openingl 16. When it is not desired to employ the holt, the same is drawn outwardly and turned to withdraw the `pin 38 from' the slots 39 and engage the'` same with-the out-erfend of. the hessV tohold the bolt in retracted position. i

1'. A deyi'ceforholding'a movable mer`' ber in a predetermined position'comprising algui de element disposedfparall-el tothe path of movementof Asaid memher", saidy guide element'having, a keeperinotolu acatch element having` a.` locking portion lravitatimally enf gageable with and disengageahle from the keeper not-cli upon movement of the member beyond said` vpredetermiiied position.

2.' A. device for 'holdingaqsliding closure in apredetermined open.1 position, eompris'- ingfa guide element disposed parallel to the p.a.th ofmovement ofthe closure;4 said guide.

element'. having a keeper notch therein, and

a.l catchv element having a lo'eli'nf;V portion engageable withinV and disengageable from the keeper noteh' upon movement ofl the closure beyond saidv predetermined Y open position; y g 1 A' levi'ce for holding' a vertically slid# able closiire in' aj predetermined elevated plo'sition, comp'risinfslfgV a rufid' element dispesea'pafaiiu to the rpage1 of' movement of the 1c:losure, a keeper on saidguide element and a catehl ele i ,j'mQvahleoverthe guide el'eiii'entv and -h'A vi a; lockingfl portion rifa-vi-l tationally dpe y jle'V forl engagement i anddisengagement" with they keeper upon .nioyel mentiofthe elo'su y ei-vatajpeaitwa lit 4. A catch for holding a vertically slidable closure in a predetermined elevated position, comprising a vertical guide bar having a keeper notch in one edge and disposed parallel to the path of movement of the closure, and a catch element pivoted to the closure and movable over the bar upon sliding of the closure, said catch element having a portion adapted to be gravitationally enga-ged within the keeper notch upon elevation of the closure above said predetermined elevated position and adapted to be gravitationally disengaged from said keeper notch upon an initial elevation of the closure above said predetermined elevated position.

5. A catch for holding a vertically slidable closure in a predetermined elevated position, comprising a vertical guide bar disposed in parallel relation to the path of movement of the closure, said guide bar having a keeper notch therein, a catch element comprising an arm pivoted at its lower. end to the closure and normally engaged at its free upper end with the bar, a link pivotally connected to said free end and embracing the bar, and a transverse notch engaging portion at the free end of the link adapted to gravitationally engage within the notch upon movement of the closure beyond its predetermined elevated position and adapt-- ed to be gravitationally disengaged from the keeper notch upon an initial upward movement of the closure beyond its predetermined elevated position.

6. A device for holding a vertically slidable closure in predetermined elevated positions comprising a guide element disposed parallel to the path of movement of the closure and having a keeper notch in its edge and subterposed vertically spaced keeper openings, a. catch element movable over the guide element and having a locking portion gravitationally operable for engagement and disengagement with the keeper notch upon movement of the closure elevated position, comprising a guide bar' disposed in parallel relation to the path of movement of the closure, said guide bar having a keeper notch in its outer edge, the said outer edge of the bar at its juncture with the lower portion of the notch being upwardly and inwardly curved, the lower wall of said keeper notch being defined by a downwardly and inwardly inclined edge merging into a lower semi-circular edge, the rear wall of said notch being deiined by a convex or arcuate edge and the upper Wall of said keeper notch being defined by a semicircula-r edge and a horizontal edge merging into the semi-circular edge and terminating fiush with the outer edge of the guide bar, and a catch element comprising an arm pivoted at its lower end to the closure with its upper end gravitationally engaging the inner edge of the guide bar, a pair of spaced arms pivoted at their inner ends to the opposite sides of the upper end of the first arm and embracing the guide bar and a transverse pin extendingthrough the outer end of the side arms whereby upon upward movement of the closure beyond the predetermined elevated position, the pin at the outer end oi the side arms will gravitationally enter the keeper notch and engage the upper wall to afford a limiting stop for the upward movement of the closure and whereby upon subsequent downward movement of the closure said pin will enter the semi-circular edge of the lower wall for supporting the closure by the connected side arms and lirst 'mentioned arm.

RALPH ROMAIN MATTICE. 

